JJ Redick CALLS OUT Doc Rivers after Celtics destroy 76ers in Game 7
The Boston Celtics won Game 7, 88-112, to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
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Doc Rivers (L- Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) and JJ Redick (R - via Mitchell Leff | Credit: Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers series conference semi-finals series was full of action. With both teams refusing to give up, the series went to the final Game 7. Playing at home, the Celtics were on home advantage as the 76ers came off a loss in Game 6. In a dominating display of basketball, Boston thwarted Philadelphia as they won by 24 points. The visitors had no chance of fighting themselves out of the huge deficit to win. After Philadelphia’s crushing defeat, many fans and critics have fired shots at the 76ers and coach Doc Rivers.
Out of the many who are criticizing Rivers, former NBA player turned analyst; JJ Redick took to Twitter too. He called out Philly’s coach for their loss by saying, “I wonder if they cooperated,” referring to an older comment made by him. Rivers and Redick were previously a part of the Los Angeles Clippers. While the team played well, they failed to win a title during their tenure as a coach and player. Rivers later spoke about Redick’s Clippers team and said that while they were talented, they didn’t cooperate with each other, which lead to them not winning championships. That is a comment that didn’t sit well with the former player.
Doc Rivers had spoken on NBA Today on ESPN earlier in the season. When asked about what he saw in the Philadelphia 76ers team, he pulled up a comparison between Philly and Los Angeles as his response.
Rivers was answering whether Philadelphia was more similar to the Clippers or the Boston Celtics; two teams that were previously coached by him. “I think more leaning towards Boston than the Clippers. Not trying to take anything away from that [Clippers] team. That team was never going to win… we just didn’t get along well enough as a group & you can’t win without cooperation.”
Keeping these comments in mind, there is no doubt that Redick threw complete shade on Rivers. After all, Philadelphia was a serious title contender with Joel Embiid and James Harden on the roster. Despite Jayson Tatum‘s heroic 51-point performance, none of the 76ers’ players stepped up, as the score at the end of regulation was 88-112.
Related: Joel Embiid gives Sixers front office ULTIMATUM after humiliating loss to Celtics
Who do the Celtics play next?
After winning Game 7, the Boston Celtics have now advanced to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. They will now play the Miami Heat in a best-of-seven series. Led by Jimmy Butler, the Heat have had one of the most impressive playoff runs this season. Although they were the eighth seed, Miami put up a valiant fighting spirit against the Milwaukee Bucks, who were the first seed in the Eastern Conference. In an absolute shocker, it took them only five games to knock the Bucks out in the first round.
While Miami might be a highly spirited opponent, Boston isn’t an easier team to beat either. The Celtics have come out of an absolutely thrilling series against Philadelphia. Knowing how talented and full of potential their opponents were, they would walk into the conference finals with immense confidence. Moreover, the Celtics players seem to be in great touch, playing some fantastic basketball.
While fans and critics speculate, it will be interesting to see how the series pans out. Will the Boston Celtics make two back-to-back NBA Finals appearances? Or will Jimmy Butler lead the Miami Heat to another shot at the title in three seasons?
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Ritvik Malhotra
(1085 Articles Published)